Both 2 and 4 door cars are the same from the firewall forward. Floor pans,
trunk floors, and trunk lids are also interchangeable between 2 and 4 door
cars. Dashboards, instrument panels, and steering columns are also the
same. Front seats will also interchange, but 4 door seats do not fold ahead
for access to the back seat.

All '68 - '79 2 and 4 door glass is entirely different between the two body
styles. Most '62 - '67 glass is different as well, but windshields are common
for 2 and 4 door sedans as well as wagons.

A hatchback was available from '73 - '79. These share many parts with 2
doors of the same year range ('73 - '74 and '75 - '79). The differences are in
the rear window, rear seat, and rear interior pieces.

From '62 - '67, both coupe and sedan models were available. Sedans have a
stationary frame around the side window openings. They are often called "post
cars" due to the post that remains between the front/rear windows when they are
both rolled down. Many parts will interchange between sedans and hardtops.
The exceptions include the glass, associated trim, doors, and roof.

The '62 - '67 Chevy II/Nova was also available in a station wagon.
Everything from the firewall forward is the same as all other body styles of
the same year. Front doors are interchangeable with 4-door sedans. Rear doors
are also interchangeable with 4-door sedans but require the wagon window frame
to be transferred over to the replacement door. All other roof, rear window,
and tailgate parts are pretty much unique to the station wagon body style.

Convertibles were available in '62 and '63. Many parts (such as the doors)
are interchangeable with '62 - '65 2 door hardtops.

Interior Parts

1962 - 1965
I do not have any detailed interior parts interchange for these years
yet.

1966 - 1967
I do not have any detailed interior parts interchange for these years
yet.

1968
In general, many '68 interior parts are unique to that year. This was
the first year for the new body style but the last year for the dash
mounted ignition switch. That made for a unique steering column, dash,
and instrument panel. Interior door lock knobs were moved further
forward in '69 so the '68 doors and interior door panels are unique.
Seats were also unique to '68 since head restraints were optional that
year. The ash tray and brake/clutch pedals are also unique to '68.

1969 - 1972
Nearly all '69 - '72 interior parts are physically interchangeable.
However door panel and seat upholstery patterns/styles were changed
from year to year. High back bucket seats were introduced in '72.

Instrument panel outer bezels are all interchangeable from '69 - '72.
The '72 bezel is slightly different since it has a "Seat Belt" light.
Later year ('73 - '76) bezels will fit a '69 - '72 but they have a
different pattern ("grained" instead of "ribbed") and they do not use
a cover panel under the steering column. Use of a corresponding year
under-dash steering column bracket may be necessary to properly align
the height of the column with a '73 - '76 bezel.

1969 - 1970 instrument panels have greenish colored numbers while
the otherwise similar looking '71 - '74 instrument panels have white
numbers. Cars equipped with the optional RPO-U17 special
instrumentation package feature a tachometer in the left hand opening
normally occupied by the gas gauge. The gas gauge on these cars is
moved to a gauge pod at the front of the console (which also includes
an oil gauge, temperature gauge, and ammeter).

1969 - 1970 heater and AC control panels also have greenish colored
lettering while the otherwise similar looking '71 - '72 control panels
have white lettering. The '73 - '76 panels are also very similar (and
interchangeable) but they have the defroster control labeled "DEF"
instead of "DE-ICE".

Steering columns are interchangeable from '69 - '74. A tilt column
option became available in '73. The '73 - '74 tilt column is a
direct bolt-in swap into a '69 - '72. A later '75 - '79 Nova column
can also be used with some minor modifications. See the "Miscellaneous"
section below for details.

1973 - 1974
Most '73 - '74 interior parts are interchangeable between the two years.
The seat belts, headliner, and headliner trim are different due to the
retractable shoulder belts introduced in '74. 1974 Novas were
equipped with a seatbelt-starter interlock system that used weight
sensors in the front seat(s). This interlock system can be easily
disabled so swapping in different seats without the sensors is not a
problem.

'73 and '74 instrument panel outer bezels are identical. Many
'75 and '76 Novas also use a very similar looking (but slightly
different) outer bezel with a different style instrument cluster
mounted in it. Some models (such as the '75 LN and '76 Concours) used
special color-coordinated and/or woodgrain instrument panel bezels.
These would still physically interchange with a '73 - '74 bezel though.
The earlier year ('69 - '72) bezels will also fit a '73 - '76 but they
have a different pattern ("ribbed" instead of "grained") and they use a
cover panel under the steering column. Use of a corresponding year
under-dash steering column bracket may also be necessary to properly
align the height of the column with a '69 - '72 bezel.

'73 and '74 use the same instrument panel as '71 - '72. A '69 -
'70 instrument panel will interchange but it has greenish colored
numbers instead of white. Cars equipped with the optional RPO-U17
special instrumentation package feature a tachometer in the left hand
opening normally occupied by the gas gauge. The gas gauge on these
cars is moved to a gauge pod at the front of the console (which also
includes an oil gauge, temperature gauge, and ammeter). The optional
console used in '73 - '74 Novas is similar to the '68 - '72 console
except for the area around the shifter which bumps out towards the
driver seat.

Heater control panels are identical from '73 to '76. Earlier
'69 - '70 (greenish lettering) and '71 - '72 (white lettering) panels
will also interchange but the defroster is labeled "DE-ICE" instead
of "DEF".

The '73 - '74 dash pad is nearly the same the '69 - '72 pad but the
grain texture is slightly different.

Steering columns are interchangeable from '69 - '74. A tilt column
became an option starting in '73. A later '75 - '79 Nova column can
be swapped into a '74 or earlier Nova with minor modifications. See
the "Miscellaneous" section below for details.

The hatchback body style was introduced in '73. It shares many
interior parts with 2-door cars but the rear seat and rear interior
panels are unique to the hatchback body style.

1975 - 1979
For the most part, '75 - '79 interior parts are interchangeable.
The dash (re-designed for 1977) is the most significant exception.

The "regular" '75 - '76 Nova instrument panel outer bezel is very
similar looking to the '73 - '74 outer bezel but the "grained" areas
below the speedometer and around the radio and light switches are
slightly different size. The bezels are physically interchangeable
from '73 through to '76 though. 1975 LN and '76 Concours Novas used
special color-coordinated and/or woodgrain bezels that are otherwise
physically interchangeable with the "regular" bezels.

The instrument panel (speedometer and gas gauge assembly) is unique
to '75 - '76 but it is physically interchangeable with the '69 - '74
instrument panels. As with the earlier years, the RPO-U17 special
instrumentation package locates a tachometer in place of the gas gauge
for '75 - '76 and re-locates the gas gauge to a gauge pod on the
console. The '75 console gauge pod is identical to the earlier years.
The '76 gauge pod is very similar but uses a voltmeter instead of an
ammeter. The '75 - '76 console is different than the earlier years.

The '75 - '76 dash pad is unique to those years but appears to be
physically interchangeable with a '69 - '74 pad. This is due to the
fact that the metal dash under-structure remained unchanged as did the
shape of the instrument panel bezel where it meets up with the dash pad.

Heater control panels are identical from '73 to '76. Earlier
'69 - '70 (greenish lettering) and '71 - '72 (white lettering) panels
will also interchange with '75/'76 but the defroster is labeled
"DE-ICE" instead of "DEF". The '77 - '79 control panels are different
and will not interchange with the earlier year panels.

Both the dash pad and instrument panel were changed in 1977. Because
of this, the '77 - '79 dash pads, instrument panels, and instrument
panel bezels are not interchangeable with earlier years. The metal
dash under-structure remained unchanged so it may be possible to swap
all of the parts as a group. The electrical connector on the back
of the instrument panel was also changed so a wiring harness swap
would also be required. The new '77 - '79 instrument panel design
has 4 round gauge openings. This allowed all optional gauge packages
to be located in the instrument panel. A console gauge pod was no
longer necessary.

Steering columns are the same from '75 to '79. Steering
wheels were changed in '78 (style only -- they're still physically
interchangeable). Seat belts were also changed in '78 (single roof
mounted retractor).

The hatchback body style was still available from '75 - '79.
Again, they shared many interior parts with 2-door cars except for the
rear seat and rear interior panels. An optional Cabriolet vinyl roof
was available on '75 - '79 2-door Novas which used unique interior
panels around the rear side windows.

Miscellaneous Interior Parts

A '75 - '79 Nova/X-body steering column (including tilt
columns) can be swapped into a '69 - '74 with some minor
modifications. The '69 - '74 steering columns have a flange
attached directly to the lower end of the steering shaft. A
flexible "rag joint" coupler joins the steering box to that flange.
The '75 - '79 steering column has a splined lower end which
connects to an intermediate shaft via a U-joint coupler. The lower
end of the intermediate shaft has the flange that attaches to
the "rag joint" coupler on the steering box. A '75 - '79 column
can be installed in a '69 - '74 using the following guidelines:

Remove the intermediate shaft from the lower end of
the '75 - '79 column.

Remove the flange from the lower end of the intermediate
shaft and install it directly onto the splined lower end of
the steering column.

Note that the end of the intermediate shaft is purposely
deformed to hold the flange in place. Attempting to remove
the flange over the end of the shaft will likely distort and
ruin the splines inside the flange.

The flange can be removed without damage by sawing the
intermediate shaft off just above the flange and pulling
the flange off over the cut end of the shaft.

When the flange is re-installed on the lower end of the
column, it would probably be a good idea to secure it with
a set screw or some tack welds if it is not a tight press fit.

A windshield wiper delay control was available as an option
(RPO-CD4) starting in 1975. Due to the similar instrument panel
bezels, the '75 - '76 wiper delay system can be easily retrofitted
into a '72 - '74 Nova. The wiper switch plug is slightly different
on '69 - '71 Novas so additional modifications would be necessary.

This system consists of a special wiper switch and a control
module that mounts under the dash. It simply plugs into the
existing wiring and uses the existing wiper motor. A similar
system was used on '77 - '79 Novas but uses a different switch
due to the dash re-design and therefore is not suitable for
retrofit into earlier years.

The rear door pull straps and chrome end caps on '75 - '79
4-door cars are interchangeable with the ones on '73 - '74 2-doors.

The interior door release handles used in '75 - '79 Novas
appear to be the same as the ones used in the 80's and early 90's
Chevy Celebrity and similar cars such as the Pontiac 6000, Olds
Cutlass Ciera, and Buick Century.

Mechanical Parts

Engines

Engines in early ('62 - '67) Chevy II/Novas used special front
sump oil pans to clear the steering linkage. Small block V8
engines (283s and 327s) used in these cars also had recessed oil
filters and a special location for the bellcrank pivot on manual
transmission cars. The front sump oil pans, pivot relocation
adapters, and other '62 - '67 V8 conversion parts are available
through most restoration parts suppliers.

See my engine swap page for the details
involved with an engine swap in a '68 - '79 Nova.

Most 60's small blocks use heads without accessory holes.
These engines also use short water pumps and often mount the
alternator on the driver side. Power steering pumps (if equipped)
are mounted below the alternator and air conditioning compressors
(if equipped) are mounted on the passenger side of the engine.
Since there are no accessory holes in the heads, the lower
alternator mount is usually bolted to (or cast into) the exhaust
manifold. The upper alternator mount attaches to either a stud in
place of the top left water pump bolt or to a mounting point on the
front of the intake manifold. The power steering pump mount
attaches to the front of the block (where 50's front engine mounts
used to go) and wraps around to one of the side engine mount bolts.
The lower A/C compressor mount attaches to studs that take the
place of a couple exhaust manifold bolts. The upper A/C compressor
mount attaches to a bracket bolted to the intake (w/longer bolts).

Most 70's small blocks use heads with accessory holes. This
results in an entirely different accessory mounting scheme than on
the 60's engines. Now alternators are on the passenger side and
air conditioning compressors (if equipped) are on the driver side.
Power steering pumps (if equipped) stayed on the driver side but
received new mounts. These engines also use long water pumps. For
the most part, 70's and 80's small block (and some V6) accessory
mounts are interchangeable. However, there were slight changes
that took place over the years so it's best to get a complete set
of compatible mounts from a donor engine when performing an engine
swap.

'79 and earlier small blocks had the oil dip stick on the LH
(driver) side. It was moved to the passenger side in '80.

Timing tabs and harmonic balancers were also changed sometime
around '76 or '77. The earlier timing tabs are on the
upper LH side. The later ones are on the top (12:00 position).

Starting in '75, inline 6 engines began using an integral head
and intake assembly. These can be swapped for a '74 or earlier
head for use with aftermarket intakes.

Engine Compartment Items

All 1962-70 Chevy II/Novas use a windshield washer fluid tank
that fits into a metal mounting bracket. 71-74 Novas use a similar
looking tank that attaches to the inner edge of the driver side
fender with two screws. 75-79 Novas also have the washer tank
secured to the inner edge of the driver side fender but these years
use a different tank that incorporates an electric washer pump.

All 1968-79 Novas use the same style rectangular body
windshield wiper motor. 68-74 have a mechanical washer pump
mounted to the wiper motor. 75-79 have an electric washer pump
mounted at the bottom of the washer fluid tank.

Most Novas with 6-cyl engines did not originally use a
fan shroud. Instead, they simply have a rounded guard built
into the top radiator mounting plate. Fan shrouds were used on all
Novas with V8 engines as well as later 70's Novas with 6-cyl
engines and air conditioning.

Coolant recovery tanks were added sometime around 1973 and
three different designs were used over the years. The 73/74 style
tank mounts to the inner edge of the front fender up on top of the
inner wheel well. I believe these tanks were usually located on
the passenger side fender except on cars with A/C (which had the
tank on the driver side). The second design tank was used only for
1975. It looks and mounts similar to the 73/74 tank. The 75 tanks
were mounted on the passenger side fender with L6 engines and on
the driver side fender with V8 engines. The third design tank was
used from 1976 to 1979. It mounts inside the passenger side fender
(next to the battery).

Air intake snorkle ducts were first used in 1975. All 75-79
6-cyl engines had a plastic duct/tube connecting the air cleaner
snorkel to the oval shaped hole in the inner edge of the driver
side fender. 1975 V8's had a similar setup with a flexible duct
hose connecting to the oval shaped hole in the inner edge of the
passenger side fender. 1976-79 V8's had a plastic duct/tube with
it's open end fastened to the top radiator support plate.

Transmissions

Both 3 and 4 speed manual transmissions were available in
Novas. Two speed (PowerGlide) and 3 speed (TurboHydramatic)
automatic transmissions were also available. This makes manual to
automatic or automatic to manual transmission swaps fairly
straightforward. The easiest way is to locate a donor car with the
appropriate type of transmission. Many conversion parts can be
purchased from restoration parts
suppliers but some parts have been discontinued.

All Chevy engines (inline 6, small and big block V8) use the
same bellhousing bolt pattern which helps simplify
engine/transmission swaps. However, not all transmissions are
suitable for use behind all engines. For example, the TH200
transmissions used in some '76 and '77 Novas didn't even hold up
well behind the 305s that GM used them with.

Front Subframe / Suspension / Steering

1962 - 1965 share a common front subframe and suspension
design. Due to improvements/changes, many '62 front end parts are
somewhat unique to that year.

1966 - 1967 have a subframe and suspension design that is similar to '62 - '65. The major difference between the '62 - '65 and '66 - '67 subframes is the inner fender attachment points (bolts are horizontal for '62 - '65 and vertical for '66 - '67). 1967 was also the first year for a dual chamber master cylinder and collapsible steering column. These changes made for different brake lines and a different steering box.

1968 - 1974 Novas share a common front subframe and suspension
design. The 1974 subframes have different front bumper mounting
holes than the 1968 - 1973 subframes. The steering linkage is
located behind the spindles so this design is often called "rear
steer".

1975 - 1979 Novas share common front subframes and front
suspensions. The steering linkage is located in front of the
spindles so this design is often called "front steer". 1979 Novas
used spindles/rotors with larger outer wheel bearings.

The power steering boxes used from '68 - '79 are Saginaw 800
series boxes. They are interchangeable from 1968 - 1974. I believe
that a 1975 - 1979 box will also work as long as a '68 - '74 pitman
arm is used to account for the front/rear steer differences.
1968 - 1974 boxes have 4 mounting points but one is unused. The
unused mount was eliminated on later boxes (starting sometime
around '75). Later, metric fittings were used which will require
either the matching lines and pump or custom made lines.

Manual steering boxes are also interchangeable in the 1968 -
1974 and 1975 - 1979 year ranges. A swap across those two year
ranges is possible if the correct pitman arm is used to account
for front/rear steer differences.

Front subframe mounting bushings are the same for 1968 - '74
Novas (and other X-bodies) and 1967 - '69 Camaros/Firebirds.

See below for more interchangeable Camaro/Firebird front
subframe and suspension parts.

1964 - 1967 ChevyII/Novas used either 8.2" 10-bolt or
8.875" 12-bolt rear axle assemblies depending on the car's
original engine. The vast majority of 64-67 ChevyII/Novas were
equipped with the 10-bolt. Only a few cars (those equipped with
high performance 327's) received the 12-bolt rearends. Most (if
not all) 64-67's have 5-lug wheels. The overall width and spring
perch location is the same so a complete 64-67 rear axle assembly
can be swapped into a 62-63 in order to upgrade from 4 to 5 lug.

1968 - 1971 Novas were also equipped with either 8.2"
10-bolt or 8.875" 12-bolt rear axle assemblies. Again, the
10-bolts are most common with the 12-bolts being used in cars
equipped with big block V8's and high performance small block V8's.
Due to the new body/chassis style, the '68 and newer rear axle
assemblies are wider than the ones used in 62-67 ChevyII/Novas.

1972 - 1975 Novas were all equipped with 8.5" 10-bolt rear axle
assemblies. These were used with all engine sizes and are nearly
as strong as the earlier 12-bolts. The overall width and spring
perch locations remained unchanged so these axle assemblies are a
bolt-in swap into '68 - '71's.

1976 - 1979 Novas were equipped with either 8.5" 10-bolt or
7.5" 10-bolt axle assemblies. All 76-79 V8 Novas (except the '76
305) used the 8.5". The 76 305 and virtually all 76-79 6-cyl
Novas used the weaker 7.5" rear. Again, the overall width and
spring perch location remained unchanged so '76 - '79 axle
assemblies are a bolt-in swap into '68 - '75's and vice versa.
There is a driveshaft length issue when switching from a 7.5"
10-bolt to any of the other three (8.2", 8.875", or 8.5") axle
assemblies though. The driveshafts used with the 7.5" rears are
about 1" longer.

I think axle shafts may be interchangeable between the '68 -
'71 8.2" 10-bolts and the '72 - '79 8.5" 10-bolts. Other than that,
there are no major internal parts that will interchange among the
different sizes and types of axle assemblies.

1967 - 1970 disc brakes used a separate distribution
block/switch and metering valve. The distribution block/switch is
the same as what is used with 1967 - 1974 drum brakes. 1971 - 1979
disc brakes used a combination valve that included a metering
valve, proportioning valve, and differential pressure switch all in
one housing.

Front disc brakes became standard equipment on all Novas in
1975. The front suspension/subframe was also re-designed in 1975
so '75 - '79 disc brakes will not fit earlier Novas. Power brakes
were still optional on '75 - '79 Novas but they were a required
option when a V8 engine was ordered. 1975 - '79 power brake
boosters are interchangeable. The push rod can be modified in
order to use a '75 - '79 booster on a '68 - '74 Nova.

Other X-bodies (Omega, Ventura/Phoenix, and Apollo/Skylark)

Novas share a fair amount of common body panels with their X-body cousins of
similar years.

1975 Apollo 1975 - 1979 Nova Note: '75 Apollo was available only as
a 4 door

1975 - 1979 Skylark 1975 - 1979 Nova

Common parts include:

Radiator Support ('75 - '78 is the same for all X-bodies, '79 is
likely the same too -- not verified)

Battery Tray (probably the same but not verified)

Front Subframe, Suspension, and Steering Components

Front Fenders (1975 and later X-body fenders appear to be the same
with marker light and emblem hole exceptions)

Front Inner Fenders (probably the same but not verified)

Side Marker Lights (not the same on all X-bodies)

Hood Hinges

Cowl Panel (not verified)

Windshield Molding

Rocker Panels

Doors

Exterior Door Handles

Most Interior Parts (** see note below)

Vent Panels (applicable to '75 - '79)

Floor Pans

Quarter Panels (slight differences where the tail lights wrap
around on some models)

Gas Tank

Trunk Floor

Trunk Lid

Hatch Lid (not verified)

Rear Window Molding

Rear Bumper (may be cosmetic differences for '74 and earlier)

The different parts include:

Front Bumper

Bumper to Grille Filler Panel

Grille and Grille Brackets

Headlight Bezels

Parking/Turn Signal Lenses (in grille or bumper)

Front Fender Extensions/Header Panel

Hood Latch

Hood

Tail Light Panel

Tail Light Lenses

** Interior parts are generally physically
interchangeable between Novas and same/similar year X-bodies. However, there
are some upholstery pattern and emblem differences on some parts. The 78/79
Pontiac Phoenix dash and instrument panel is an exception. They used a unique
instrument panel and what appears to be a 75/76 Nova style dash pad. The 77-79
Buick Skylarks and Olds Omegas appear to use the same basic style instrument
panels and dash pads as 77-79 Novas.

Camaros and Firebirds

1967 - 1969 Camaros and Firebirds share a few parts in common with 1968 -
1974 Novas. The front subframe and suspension components are interchangeable.
Lower windshield molding, wiper motors, and wiper transmissions, and wiper arms
are also interchangeable. 1969 Camaro steering columns are interchangeable
with 1969 to 1974 Nova columns. Much of the firewall, cowl, and dash
structure appears to be common between '67 - '69 Camaros and '68 - '74 Novas as
well.

1967 - 1969 Camaro rear axle assemblies are interchangeable with
1968 - 1979 Nova rearends. However, most Camaros in this year range were
equipped with an 8.2" 10-bolt axle assembly which would only be considered
an upgrade if replacing a 7.5" 10-bolt. Some '67 - '69 Camaros were equipped
with 8.875" 12-bolts but those are rather rare.

1970 - 1981 Camaros and Firebirds share some parts with 1975 - 1979 Novas.
The front subframes are different due to radiator support, bumper, and body
mount location differences. However, the front suspension and steering
components are interchangeable. Note that the outer front wheel bearing
size was increased in 1979 so 79-81 spindles require the use of corresponding
79-81 brake rotors.

Please note that these are NOT lists of parts for sale. The purpose of
these lists is to help fellow Nova enthusiasts determine which restoration
and repair parts will fit their car.